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FLASHCARDS IN ALSACE DECK (28)

What are the 4 noble white grapes in Alsace?

Riesling

Gewurztraminer

Muscat

Pinot Gris

What are the 2 natural borders of Alsace?

Eastern border: Rhine River

Western border: Vosges Mountains

Alsace has been both French and ___.

German

Where is Alsace geographically located in France?

Northeast France, bordering Germany

5

The Vosges Mountains create a ___ in Alsace, protecting the region from nasty, wet weather.

Rain shadow

Alsace is split into 2 départements, the __-Rhin in the north and the __-Rhin in the south.

North: Bas-Rhin

South: Haut-Rhin

Differences between the Bas-Rhin and the Haut-Rhin include:

Bas-Rhin

lower elevation

not as protected by the Vosges, so fewer good vineyards

Haut-Rhin

higher elevation
more protection by the Vosges, so the best vineyards

What is the climate of Alsace?

Cool continental

Climatically, Alsace is one of the ___est and ___est regions in France.

Why?

Sunniest and driest due to the rain shadow caused by the Vosges Mountains.

10

Are Alsace's vineyards planted on the flat banks of the Rhine River or on the hillsides of the Vosges
Mountains?

Hillsides of the Vosges Mountains

11

What are the soils of Alsace?

Incredibly varied and layered, kind of like a Dagwood sandwich.

Soils include:
volcanic

clay

granite

gneiss

marl

limestone

sandstone

schist

12

Besides Riesling, Muscat, Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer, what other 2 white grapes grow in Alsace?

Pinot Blanc

Sylvaner

13

What is the 1 red grape allowed in Alsace?

Pinot Noir

14

What is the growing season like in Alsace, and what causes it?

Long, dry, sunny and temperate caused by the rain shadow by the Vosges Mountains.

15

Where are the best vineyards in Alsace planted?

In the Haut-Rhin on lower slopes facing east/southeast.

16

What effects on climate and viticulture does a rain shadow cause?

Dry climate

Sunny climate (tho not necessarily a warmer one)

Longer growing season

Riper grapes

Higher potential alcohol

Richer, fuller bodied wines

17

In Alsace, the majority of winemakers use:

100% brand new oak barrels

neutral barrels bearing little-to-no oak aromas

amphorae only

Neutral barrels bearing little-to-no oak aromas.

18

In Alsace, winemakers are allowed to put the name of the ___ on the label.
Grape

19

If an Alsatian winemaker puts the name of a grape on the wine label, how much of the grape must be in
the wine?

100%

20

What are the 3 AOPs of Alsace?

Alsace/Vin d'Alsace AOP

Alsace Grand Cru AOP

Crémant d'Alsace AOP

21

What is the name of the traditional bottle in which all Alsace AOP wines must be bottled?

Flûte d'Alsace

22

Which AOP in Alsace covers the entire region?

Alsace/Vin d'Alsace AOP

23

How many Grand Cru vineyards are there in Alsace?

51

24

Each Grand Cru vineyard in Alsace is its own ___.

AOP

Fun Fact: each Grand Cru in Alsace was deemed its own AOP in 2011

25

What are the 4 grapes allowed to be planted in Alsace's Grand Cru vineyards?

Riesling

Muscat

Pinot Gris

Gewurztraminer

The 'noble' varietals!

26

Crémant d'Alsace is usually a blend of grapes or made from a single varietal?

Blend of grapes
27

What are the 2 terms Alsace uses for late harvested wines?

Vendange Tardive (VT)

Sélection de Grains Nobles (SGN)

28

What is the difference between VT and SGV from a botrytis perspective?

VTs may be affected by botrytis

SGNs are always affected by botrytis